AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL IN NELSON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 21 July 1925, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL IN NELSON

ALLEGED NEGLECT BY DERARTMEN T

PROTEST FROM FARMERS’ UNION

At the meeting of the executive committee of the Tielson Provincial Farmers’ Union to-day, a letter was read from the Dominion secretary stating that the Director-General of Agriculture notified that it would not be possible to hold a school of instruction in Nelson this winter but one was being held in Blenheim, where farmers would be welcomed. When arrangements were being made next year, it might be possible to hold a school in Nelson.

Mr North took exception to the way Nelson was being treated in the matter. The instructor was supposed to be appointed both for Nelson and Marlborough, and lie protested against Nelson being again set aside. He moved that a strong protest be made to; the Department tit the way Nelson had been neglected. Seconded by Mr W. A. Jordan.

Mr Max endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker. The Department should reconsider its decision not to hold a school here. He was present at the school hold in Blenheim last year, and was very much struck with the interest shown and the large attendance of farmers. He was sure if a school was held in Nelson it would he largely taken advantage of. 1 Mr Forsyth agreed that a strong protest should he made. The Department had been asked to hold the school alternately at Nelson and Marlborough, and the resolution from the committee asking for it to be held this year should not have been set aside. Mr Ryder asked if the instructor had been appointed for both provinces, and he understood that he was. But so far Nelson had received no benefit from the official. He (the speaker) had never heard of his being in the Nelson district since his appointment. He might just as well have been appointed instructor solely for Marlborough. As a matter of fact, he believed the Nelson Union had been the first to approach the Department for an instructor and bad asked the. Marlborough Union to support the proposal. The chairman and other members supported the motion, which was carried unanimously.